Optical disc for storing moving pictures with text information and apparatus using the disc

ABSTRACT

When moving pictures are recorded onto an optical disc, not only is text data recorded, but also video-recording start date and time, video-recording end date and time, and source name or channel number serving as primary text data are recorded in alphanumeric characters program by program or cell by cell, a program or a cell being used as a unit of video-recording. Other text data is recorded together with language code. Since the primary text data used to select video data is expressed in alphanumeric characters, a program or cell to be reproduced can be selected, regardless of language, and the text information in the same language as that of the apparatus can be searched for.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/630,541,filed on Aug. 1, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,413, which is adivisional of Ser. No. 09/461,618, filed on Dec. 15, 1999, now U.S. Pat.No. 6,259,858.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an optical disc on which video data, audiodata, and the like are recorded, an optical disc recording apparatus forrecording data onto the optical disc, and an optical disc reproducingapparatus for reproducing the data recorded on the optical disc.

In recent years, moving-picture-compatible optical disc playback systemshave been developed which play back an optical disc on which video data,audio data, and the like have been recorded. They have been widely usedin the form of, for example, LDs (Laser Discs) or video CDs for thepurpose of reproducing movie software or karaoke.

In this connection, the DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) standard employingthe internationally standardized MPEG-2 (Motion Picture Experts Group 2)scheme and the AC (Audio Compression)-3 scheme has been proposed.

The DVD standard supports MPEG-2 for moving picture compression schemeand AC-3 audio and MPEG audio for audio recording scheme according tothe MPEG-2 system layer architecture. The DVD standard further supportssub-picture data, obtained by run-length compressing the bit map datafor subtitles, and special playback control data (navigation pack) suchas fast-forward playback or fast-rewind playback data.

Furthermore, the DVD standard supports ISO 9660 and micro UDF (or UDFBridge) to allow computers to read data of DVD.

Presently, however, the DVD standard takes no account of homerecording/reproducing systems. When home recording/reproducing systemsare constructed according to the standard, the following problem arise.

In DVD, information on title is defined as text information.

The text information, which is used for retrieval or search, has notbeen used much, because the DVD-ROM video has a menu (menu pictures) thetitle producer created, such as VMGM (video manager menu) or VTSM (videotitle set menu). In home recording/reproducing systems, however, a menucannot be entered beforehand to record TV programs or moving picturesand still pictures (photographic data) from a camera into a DVD-RAM.Thus, retrieval or search using the text information becomes important.

In the DVD-ROM video, however, the text information has been created,taking no account of language. More specifically, in European countriesand Asian countries, language differs from one TV station to another orfrom one program to another. Additionally, assume a case where a persongoes abroad, carrying a DVD recorder with him or her, and doesvideo-recording where he or she is staying. Under this assumption, if itis unknown which language the text information was recorded, the DVDrecorder (or player) cannot judge whether or not a character generator(e.g., kanji ROM) corresponding to its language code is providedtherein, when the text information is decoded. This makes the decodingdifficult. Moreover, when the text information does not correspond tothe language, information retrieval (search) and the like cannot beperformed at all.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to remove the drawback that, when thelanguage in the text information corresponding to the video data to berecorded varies each time recording is done on a video-data-recordingoptical disc (or information storage medium), this cannot be dealt withand text retrieval cannot be performed.

A first object of the present invention is to provide an optical disc(or information storage medium) which enables multilingual textretrieval.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forrecording information on the optical disc (or information storagemedium).

A third object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus forreproducing the recorded information from the optical disc (orinformation storage medium).

To accomplish the first object, an optical disc (or an informationstorage medium) according to the present invention has a management area(RTR. IFO of FIG. 13D/RTR_VMG of FIG. 13E) and a data area (1012 to 1016in FIG. 13D). In the data area (1012 to 1016), data (including videodata and audio data) is separated into one or more sequences (PGCs),which are then recorded. Each sequence (PGC) is composed of one or moreprograms corresponding to one or more cells (see FIG. 15).

Here, one cell corresponds to one or more data unit (VOBU in FIG. 3).One data unit (VOBU) includes one or more packs of pictures or sound tobe reproduced in a period of time in a specific range (0.5 to 1.2seconds).

In the management area (RTR_VMG), a sequence management table (PGCIT ofFIG. 6, 1752 in FIG. 16, ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT of FIG. 17)) for managingprogram sequences by determining the playback sequence (or an order ofplayback) of the cells and a program management table (PGC_PGI of FIG.6, PGI # in FIG. 15 or 17) exist independently or partially overlap witheach other.

In the program management table (PGI #1), first text information(PRM_TXTI) expressed in alphanumeric characters (e.g., the ASCII code)is recorded.

In a specific area (TXTDT_MG in FIG. 4 or FIG. 16) different from theprogram management table (PGI #) in the management area, second textinformation (IT_TXT) is recorded in the same as or a different languagefrom that of the first text information (PRM_TXTI).

In the optical disc, the first text information (PRM_TXTI) includesfirst retrieval information (ST23 in FIG. 10) usable in searching forthe programs.

Additionally, in the optical disc, the second text information (IT_TXT)includes second retrieval information (ST25 in FIG. 10) usable insearching for the programs.

Furthermore, in the optical disc, the second text information (IT-TXT inFIG. 12) includes an identification code (IDCD), the size of textinformation (TXT_SZ), and the body of text information (TXT).

Alternatively, in the optical disc, the second text information (IT_TXTin FIG. 12) includes an identification code (IDCD) and the size of textinformation (TXT_SZ).

Furthermore, in the optical disc, the sequence management table (VOBsequence information 1752 in FIG. 16) includes a search pointer (PL_SRP#) which points at a specific point in the program sequence (VOBsequence) and includes the first text information (PRM_TXTI).

Moreover, in the optical disc, the specific area (TXTDT_MG in FIG. 16)is included in the management area (RTR_VMG) and includes the secondtext information (IT_TXT) as sub-information for the first textinformation (PRM_TXTI).

Additionally, in the optical disc, the first text information (PRM_TXTI)and second text information (IT_TXT) can be used in searching for theprograms and a search using the first text information (PRM_TXTI) haspriority of search over a search using the second text information(IT_TXT) (in FIG. 10, ST25 using IT_TXT is after the process at ST18using PRM_TXTI).

In addition, in the optical disc, the management area (RTR_VMG) includesa management table (CI in FIG. 17) for managing the cells, and textinformation (PRM_TXTI) expressed in alphanumeric characters is recordedin the cell management table (M_CI or S_CI in FIG. 17).

Here, the first text information (PRM_TXTI) can include at least one ofvideo-recording start date and time, video-recording end date and time,a source name, and a channel number.

To achieve the second object, a recording apparatus according to thepresent invention uses an optical disc (10) having a management area(RTR_VMG in FIG. 13E) and a data area (1012 to 1016 in FIG. 13D) inwhich one or more programs have been recorded, the management area(RTR_VMG) including a sequence management table (ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT)for managing the sequence of the programs and a program management table(PGI) for managing the programs.

The recording apparatus comprises: first recording means (101 to 104 inFIG. 1, ST4 in FIG. 9) for recording data in programs into the data areaon the optical disc; second recording means (101 to 104 in FIG. 1, ST2in FIG. 9) for recording first text information (PRM TXTI) expressed inalphanumeric characters and usable in searching for the programs intothe program management table (PGI) on the optical disc; and thirdrecording means (101 to 104 in FIG. 1, ST3 in FIG. 9) for recordingsecond text information (IT_TXT) usable in searching for the programsinto an area different from the program management table in themanagement area on the optical disc.

In the recording apparatus, the second text information (IT_TXT) isexpressed in the same language as that of the first text information(PRM_TXTI).

Alternatively, in the recording apparatus, the second text information(IT_TXT) is expressed in a different language from that of the firsttext information (PRM_TXTI).

Furthermore, in the recording apparatus, the second and third recordingmeans (ST2, ST3) record in such a manner that a search using the firsttext information (PRM_TXTI) has priority of search over a search usingthe second text information (IT_TXT) (in FIG. 10, ST25 using IT_TXT isafter the process at ST18 using PRM_TXTI).

To accomplish the third object, a reproducing apparatus according to thepresent invention uses an optical disc (10) having a management area(RTR_VMG in FIG. 13E) and a data area (1012 to 1016 in FIG. 13D) inwhich one or more programs have been recorded, the management area(RTR_VMG) including a sequence management table (ORG_PGCI or UD_PGCIT)for managing the sequence of the programs and a program management table(PGI) for managing the programs.

The reproducing apparatus comprises: an input section (120 in FIG. 1,ST23 in FIG. 10) for inputting at least one of video-recording date andchannel number as text information (TEXT in FIG. 12); a retrievingsection (101 in FIG. 11, ST16 in FIG. 10) for retrieving a program (theprogram NONFICTION in FIG. 11 or 12) to be reproduced by comparing theinputted text information (TEXT=video-recording date and/or channelnumber) with primary text information (PRM_TXTI) recorded in the programmanagement table (PGI); a selecting section (101 in FIG. 1, ST19 in FIG.10) for selecting one (TEXT in FIG. 12) of the pieces of the textinformation (video-recording date and time lists 1 to 3 in FIG. 11)about the retrieved program (NONFICTION) to be reproduced; and areproducing section (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST20 in FIG. 10) forreproducing the data for the program (NONFICTION) corresponding to theselected piece of the text information (TEXT in FIG. 12).

The reproducing apparatus further comprises a second retrieving section(101 in FIG. 1, ST25 in FIG. 10) for retrieving a program using textinformation different from the primary text information (PRM_TXTI).

In the reproducing apparatus, a search using the primary textinformation (PRM_TXTI) has priority over a search using the differenttext information (IT_TXT) (in FIG. 101 ST25 using IT_TXT is after theprocess at ST18 using PRM_TXTI).

The reproducing apparatus reproduces the first text information(PRM_TXTI) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST15 in FIG.10).

The reproducing apparatus reproduces the second text information(IT_TXT) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST25 in FIG. 10).

Furthermore, the reproducing apparatus reproduces the contents ofrecords (TXTDT_MG in FIG. 4, PGI, CI in FIG. 6) in the management area(RTR_VMG) from the optical disc (101 to 106 in FIG. 1, ST11 in FIG. 10).

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a table to help explain a file format in storing data on anoptical disc;

FIG. 3 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure of theinformation stored on an optical disc;

FIG. 4 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure of themanagement data in video manager information (RTR_VMGI);

FIG. 5 is a table to help explain the contents of a text data languageunit search pointer (differing from the example of TXTDT_LU_SRP in FIG.4(c));

FIG. 6 is a diagram to help explain a hierarchical structure of themanagement data in video title set information (VTSI/RTR_VMGI);

FIG. 7 is a table to help explain the contents of cell playbackinformation (C_PBI/CI);

FIG. 8 is a table to help explain the contents of program information(PGI);

FIG. 9 is a flowchart to help explain a data process in video-recording;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart to help explain a program retrieval process usingtext information;

FIG. 11 shows examples of display in the program retrieval process usingtext information;

FIG. 12 shows an example of display using text information;

FIGS. 13(A) to 13(F) are diagrams to help explain the data structure ofan optical disc according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram to help explain the directory structure of a datafile stored on the optical disc of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of program chaincontrol information (including UD_PGCIT);

FIG. 16 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of managementinformation (video title set information VTSI or management informationRTR_VMGI for video real-time recording);

FIG. 17 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of controlinformation/navigation data (RTR_VMG) in FIG. 13 or 16; and

FIG. 18 is a diagram to help explain the relationship of still picturesVOB and movies VOB with the original PGC information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings, an optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained.

A typical embodiment of the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatusis an apparatus for recording and reproducing moving pictures (or AVdata) encoded according to the MPEG-2 standard onto and from an opticaldisc 1 at a variable bit rate, such as a DVD digital video recorder. (Aconcrete example of the DVD digital video recorder will be explainedlater.)

As shown in FIG. 2, on the optical disc 1, data is stored in a normalfile format. A title corresponds to one film. One disc contains morethan one title. A collection of titles is called a title set. A titleset is composed of plural files.

On a single optical disc 1, there is a file called a video manager VideoManager (hereinafter, referred to as VMG) as information used to managethe optical disc 1.

In the video title set (hereinafter, referred to as VTS), informationused to manage the title set is composed of a Video Title SetInformation (hereinafter, referred to as VTSI) management file, a videofile made up of video data, and a VTSI backup file.

For example, in a DVD video directory, VMG management data (VMGI) iscomposed of VMG menu video data (VMGM_VOBS), VMGI backup (VMGI), VTSmanagement data (VTSI), VTS menu video data (VTSM_VOBS), VTS video data(VTSTT_VOBS), and VTSI backup (VTSI).

As shown in FIG. 3, the video file has a hierarchical structure. Onefile is composed of program chains. One program chain is composed ofprograms. One program is composed of cells. One cell corresponds tovideo object units (hereinafter, referred to as VOBUs). A VOBU iscomposed of packs consisting of various types of data. A pack iscomposed of one or more packets and a pack header.

There are three types of packs: video packs (V packs) in which movingpicture and still picture data have been recorded, sub-picture packs (SPpacks) in which sub-picture data has been recorded, and audio packs (Apacks) in which audio data has been recorded.

The pack is the smallest unit in data transfer. The smallest unit inlogical processing is a cell. Logical processing is done in cells.

The playback time of the video object unit VOBU corresponds to theplayback time of the video data made up of more than one video group(Group of Picture, which is abbreviated as GOP) contained in the videoobject unit VOBU. The playback time is set to the range from 0.4 secondto 1.2 seconds. In the MPEG standard, the playback time of one GOP isnormally about 0.5 second. One GOP contains screen data compressed sothat about 15 pictures may be reproduced in about 0.5 second.

When a video object unit VOBU includes video data, GOPs (complying withthe MPEG standard) composed of video packs, sub-picture packs, and audiopacks are arranged to produce a video data stream.

Even when the playback data contains only audio and/or sub-picture data,it is constructed using a video object unit VOBU as one unit. Forexample, when a video object unit VOBU is made up of only audio packs,the audio pack to be reproduced within the playback time of the videoobject unit VOBU to which the audio data belongs is stored in the videoobject unit VOBU, as in the video object VOB of video data.

A navigation pack (NV pack) (usable as management information) may beadded to the head of the GOP.

The navigation pack is not handled on a DVD real-time recording(DVD_RTR) apparatus.

The VMG management data (VMGI) includes a text data manager TXTDT_MGwhich writes pieces of information, including a title name for title, analbum name, and a producer name, in text form as shown in FIG. 4(a).

In the text data manager TXTDT_MG, the following items are recorded asshown in FIG. 4(b): text data manager information TXTDT_MGI in which anidentifier used to identify TXTDT_MG, its number, and its end addressare written, text data language unit search pointers TXTDT_LU_SRP #1 toTXTDT_LU_SRP #n in which a language code for each language is written,and the contents of text data language units TXTDT_LU #1 to TXTDT_#n,each being a table of text data for each language.

The text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_, which containseight bytes, includes a language code (TXTDT_LCD: two bytes) for textdata, reserve (one byte), a character set (one byte), and a startaddress (TXTDT_LU_SA: four bytes) for a text data language unit as shownin FIG. 4(c).

In the text data language unit TXTDT_LU, the following items arerecorded as shown in FIG. 4(d): text data information TXTDTI in whichthe number of IT_TXT_SRPs in TXTDT is written, item text search pointers(IT_TXT_SRP #1 to IT_TXT_SRP #n) in which a number used to identify thecontents of IT_TXT and the start address of IT_TXT, and the contents ofitem texts (IT_TXT #1 to IT_TXT #M) written in character code.

The numbers 1 to M of the item texts (IT_TXT #1 to IT_TXT #M) make itemnumbers.

The text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP may contain tenbytes and, as shown in FIG. 5, include a language code (TXTDT_LCD: twobytes) for primary text data, reserve (one byte), a character set (onebyte), and the start address (TXTDT_LU_SA: four bytes) for a text datalanguage unit, and a language code (OPTION_TXTDT_LCD: two bytes) forother text data.

In the management data (VTSI) in the VTS, the following items arerecorded as shown in FIG. 6(a): the contents of a video titleinformation manager table (VTSI_MAT) listing the start address of eachpiece of information in VTS and VTSI and the attributes of VOBS in VTSand the contents of a video title set program chain information table(VTS_PGCIT) in which VTS program chain information is written.

An order of playback of cells for program chains PGC can be determinedby the contents (PGCI) of the video title set program chain informationtable (VTS_PGCIT).

The program chain PGC is a unit for executing a series of playbackaccording to the specified playback sequence.

A cell CELL is a playback section where playback data is specified usinga start address and an end address.

The program chain information table (VTS_PGCIT), as shown in FIG. 6(b),includes program chain information table information (PGCITI) in whichthe number of PGCI_SRPs and the end address of PGCIT, VTS_PGC programchain information search pointers (PGCI_SRP #1 to PGCI_SRP #n) in whichthe category of VTS_PGC and the start address of VTS_PGCI are written,and program chain information (PGCI #1 to PGCI #M).

The program chain information table information (PGCITI) includesinformation indicating the number of program chains PGCs. The programchain information search pointer (PGCI_SRP) points at the head of eachpiece of program chain information PGCI and makes it easy to search.

The order of the pieces of program chain information PGCI is set,regardless of the order of the program chain information search pointersPGCI_SRP #1 to PGCI_SRP #n. This enables one or more program chaininformation search pointers PGCI_SRPs to point at the same piece ofprogram chain information PGCI.

The program chain information (PGCI), as shown in FIG. 6(c), is composedof program chain general information (PGC_GI) in which the playback timeof program chains PGCs and the number of cells are written, a programchain command table (PGC_CMDT) in which commands for program chains arewritten, a program chain program map (PGC_PGI) in which a maprepresenting the structure of the programs in a program chain iswritten, a cell playback information table (C_PBIT) in which a table todefine the playback sequence of cells in a program is written, and acell position information table (C_POSIT) in which VOBID numbers of thecells used in a program and cell ID numbers are written.

In the cell playback information table (C_PBIT), cell playbackinformation (C_PBI #1 to C_PBI #j) are written as shown in FIG. 6(d).

FIG. 7 shows the contents of cell playback information C_PBI (C_PBI #1to C_PBI #j) of FIG. 6(d). Specifically, each piece of cell playbackinformation (C_PBI), which contains 54 bytes, includes a cell category(C_CAT: four bytes), cell playback time (C_PBTM: four bytes), the startaddress (C_FVOBU_SA: four bytes) of the first video object unit (VOB) ina cell, the end address (C_VOBU_EA: four bytes) of the first videoobject unit (VOBU) in the cell, the start address (C_FVOBU_SA: fourbytes) of the last video object unit (VOB) in the cell, the end address(C_FVOBU_EA: four bytes) of the last video object unit (VOBU) in thecell, primary text information (28 bytes) composed of video-recordingstart date and time, video-recording end date and time, source name, andTV channel number, and the TEXT item number (ITEM Number OF TEXT: twobytes) in text data manager TXTDT_MG in VMGI as shown in FIG. 7.

The program chain program map (PGC_PGI) is composed of pieces of programinformation #1 to #i as shown in FIG. 6(e).

FIG. 8 shows the contents of the program information shown in FIG. 6(e).Specifically, the program information, which contains 32 bytes, includesan entry cell number (EN_CN: one byte), primary text information (28bytes) composed of video-recording start date and time, video-recordingend date and time, source name, and TV channel number, and the TEXT itemnumber (ITEM Number OF TEXT: two bytes) in text data manager TXTDT_MG inVMGI.

The primary text information is used to record information onvideo-recording, the information contained in the blanking period of avideo signal, and pieces of information in the electronic TV guideinformation (as found in satellite broadcasting) or the like andretrieve the recorded video data.

For the primary text information, pieces of information consideredessential may be video-recording start date and time, source name, andTV channel number. The presence of these pieces of information enablesthe user to specify a TV program. On the other hand, in a case of videocamera recording or still camera recording, by knowing the recordingdate and time, the user can determine where the picture was taken orrecoded. Therefore, those pieces of information may also be used asprimary text information.

The primary text information can be created within the optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus (video-recording/reproducing system).What carries out the work is a determination unit of primary textinformation, which will be explained later.

Being written and recorded in the ASCII code, those pieces of theprimary text-information can be generated easily in the optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus. This is a function applicable to alow-cost machine on a firmware basis. Representation in English enablesuse in major countries in the world. A method of specifying the languagecode for the primary text information and then recording it can beconsidered.

Furthermore, the following data can be considered as other textinformation: the text data superimposed in a video blanking period inground-wave broadcasting, and data other than the subtitle-data in thetext information, such as program information, in the electronic TVguide information in digital broadcasting, such as satellitebroadcasting. The data other than the subtitle data includes the titlename, the names of the performers, the program review, the historicalbackground, and a description of accessories used in the program.Although not text information, HTML data can also be recorded in asimilar manner.

Thus, the other text information may be recorded according to the DVDtext INF format. In the case of HTML data, the language code is set to“IFFFF. ”

Of those data items, the text information known before the video datarecording is recorded and then video-recording is started.

The text information taken in during recording is stored in a memory (atext buffer explained later) temporarily. After the recording has beencompleted, the test information is recorded.

At this time, a language code detector explained later senses thelanguage name and text code name in the text information, records thesensed language name and text code name into a text informationmanagement area, and thereafter records the text information in a textinformation area.

Here, the following two cases can be considered: a case where theprimary text information and TEXT item numbers are recorded on a cell(CELL) basis and a case where they are recorded on a program (PG) basis.When recording is done on a CELL basis, the primary text information andTEXT item numbers are recorded in C-PBI as shown in FIG. 7. Whenrecording is effected on a PG basis, they are recorded in the programinformation in PGI.

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the optical discrecording/reproducing apparatus (e.g., DVD video recorder) for recordingand reproducing digital moving picture information onto and from anoptical disc 1 using the data structures as explained in FIGS. 2 to 8.

In the optical disc recording/reproducing apparatus, the followingdevices act on the optical disc 1 serving as a recording medium. First,a main microprocessor section (hereinafter, referred to as a main MPUsection) 101 is a section for supervising the operation of the entirerecording/reproducing apparatus.

A disc drive 102 includes the function of controlling the rotation ofthe optical disc 1, the reading of data from the optical disc 1, and thewriting of data onto the optical disc 1 under the control of the mainMPU section 101. Control of the rotation of the optical disc 1 isperformed via the servo mechanism of a disc motor. The writing of dataonto the optical disc 1 and the reading of data from the optical disc 1are realized via a pickup device.

A data processor 103 adds an error correction code to the data in unitsof 16 sectors to record the recording data from an encoder unit 104 ontothe optical disc 1 in a recording operation, produces a recording signalby modulation, and supplies the resulting signal to the disc drive 102.A temporary storage buffer 105 is connected to the data processor 103and used to temporarily store more than several minutes of recordingdata in high-speed access.

The data processor 103 receives a playback signal from the disc drive102 in a playback operation, demodulates the signal, performs an errorcorrection process, and sends the demodulated signal to a decoder unit106.

An external input is supplied to the encoder unit 104. An audio/video(AV) input section 107 can supply an audio signal and a video signal anda tuner 108 also can supply an audio signal and a video signal. Sincethere may be character information or closed caption data as theinformation in a vertical blanking period, the tuner 108 can input thesedata items to the encoder unit 104.

The audio signal and video signal are supplied to an analog/digital(A/D) converter 201 in the encoder unit 104. The video signal digitizedat the A/d converter 201 is inputted to a video encoder 202, whereas theaudio signal is inputted to an audio encoder 203. The characterinformation and closed caption data are inputted to a sub-picture (SP)encoder 204. The encoded video data, audio data, and sub-picture dataare inputted to a formatter 205, which organizes these data into packetsand packs for recording. At this time, a buffer memory 206 is used fortemporary storage.

The encoders 202, 203, 204 refer to a system time clock acting as areference of time for all of the files and, according to the value,determine a presentation time stamp (PTS) and a decoded time stamp (DTS)for each packet. The system time clock is generated by a system timeclock (STC) unit 109.

To further add the necessary information in playback, the formatter 205may perform an alignment process of packs in each specific interval(e.g., GOP) of video (e.g., the playback time ranges from about 0.5 to1.2 seconds) and add a navigation pack (NV pack) (usable as managementinformation) to the head of a GOP.

The data processor 103 records the addresses of the NV packs ahead andbehind in a data area for a fast-forward and rewind of data in NV packs,and the other necessary management data in a management area.

The decoder unit 106 receives a pack train of playback data from thedata processor 103. The pack train is supplied to a separator 301. Theseparator 301 judges each pack and transfers video packets to a videodecoder 302, sub-picture packets to a sub-picture (SP) decoder 303, andaudio packets to an audio decoder 304.

NV packs are stored one after another in the internal memory 301 a ofthe separator 301 so that the main MPU section can access them at anytime.

When the separator 301 transfers each packet to the correspondingdecoder, PTS or DTS is sent with specified timing to the system timeclock unit 109, which loads it therein and sets a reference time for theentire system. For example, the main MPU section 101 loads PTS in a NVpack into the system time clock unit 109 or the video decoder 302automatically sets DTS or PTS for the video data in the system clockunit 109.

After the setting, each decoder compares PTS in a packet with the systemclock and performs a decoding and reproducing process, while keeping thesynchronizing state.

The video data decoded at the video decoder 302 and the sub-picture datadecoded at the sub-picture decoder 303 are inputted to a video processor305, which combines them.

A video mixer 110 mixes the output of the video processor 305 with thecharacter data and others stored in the frame memory 111. Thereafter,the resulting signal is converted by a video encoder 112 into an NTSCsignal (or PAL signal), which is supplied to a display (TV monitor) 113.In addition, the output of the video mixer 110 is designed to be takenout as digital output through an interface 114.

The output of the audio decoder 304 is converted by a digital/analog(D/A) converter 309 and the resulting signal is supplied to an audiooutput section (speaker) 115.

Connected to the main MPU unit 101 are a key input section 120, such asa keyboard, composed of a PLAY (playback) key, a REC (video-recording)key, a STOP key, and others, a display panel 121, and a charactergenerator or kanji ROM 122 for displaying text information. Thecharacter generator or kanji ROM 122 converts a text code (charactercode) in the text information into a character pattern (or font data).For example, a specific language code has been set in the charactergenerator or kanji ROM 122. The language code is used to convert textcodes into character patterns in any one of various languages, includingalphanumeric characters, kanji characters, Hangul characters, and Arabiccharacters. The set language code is managed by the main MPU section101.

The main MPU section 101 not only manages the entire apparatuscomprehensively but also performs edit control.

The main MPU section 101 includes a primary text determination unit 101a, a text buffer 101 b, an unavailable language warning display 101 c, alanguage code detector 10ld, and a language checker 110 e.

The primary text information determination unit 101 a generates, asprimary text information, information (video-recording start date andtime, source name, and TV channel number) regarding video-recording fromthe tuner 108, the information sent during a blanking period, electronicTV guide information (as found in satellite broadcasting) and so on.

The text buffer 101 b stores the text information temporarily.

The unavailable language warning display 101 c not only displays theabsence of the relevant data when it is judged from the data from thelanguage checker 101 e that there is no data corresponding to thelanguage, but also gives a warning to the user on the display 113 wherethere is no text data from the tuner 108 acting as the other textinformation retrieval unit.

The language code detector 101 d detects the language name and text codename in the text information, records the detected language name andtext code name into the area (see FIG. 4(c)) for the language code(TXTDT_LCD) for text data in the text data language unit search pointerTXTDT_LU_SRP serving as the text information management area, andthereafter records the text information into the area (see FIG. 4(d))for item text (IT_TXT) in the text data language unit TXTDT_LU servingas the text information area.

The language checker 101 e reads the language code corresponding to theprimary text information about each of the retrieved (or searched)programs or cells on the basis of the text item number and checks to seeif the language code coincides with the language code of the apparatus.

The main MPU unit 101 converts the character code corresponding to thetext information into font data and develops the font data on the framememory 111. The video mixer 110 mixes the resulting data with decodedata (or DVD video data). Then, the video encoder 112 converts the mixeddata into an NTSC signal (or PAL signal), which is displayed on the TVmonitor 113 or the like.

Although retrieval data (search data) is inputted from the key inputsection 120, the same thing may be done from only a pointing device (inthe case of a type where a keyboard icon is displayed on the TV screenand characters are chosen by the icon keyboard on the screen), takingaccount of use at home.

Next, the data processing in video-recording will be described byreference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

First, when receiving a video-recording instruction, the main MPUsection 101 reads the management data from the disc drive 102 anddetermines a writing area. Then, the MPU section 101 sets the managementarea so that the determined area may be written into and sets the writestart address of the video data in the disc drive 102, thereby preparingfor data recording (step ST1).

Next, the main MPU section 101 resets the time of the STC unit 109. TheSTC unit 109 is a system timer. Video-recording and playback are done onthe basis of the value of the timer. The main MPU section 101 furthereffects other various setting.

Thereafter, the main MPU section 101 causes the primary text informationdetermination unit 101 a to produce primary text information inalphanumeric characters from the video-recording start date and time,source name, and TV channel name, supplied as information onvideo-recording from the tuner 108. The MPU section 101 records theprimary text information in cell playback information (C_PBI) shown inFIG. 6(d), when the primary text information is recorded cell by cell,and records it in the program information shown in FIG. 6(e), when it isrecorded program by program (step ST2).

Furthermore, the main MPU section 101 records the text information knownbefore recording in the area for item text (IT_TXT) in the text datalanguage unit TXTDT_LU in the text data manager in VMGI (step ST3). Whenthe language code is known, the MPU section 101 records the languagecode in the area for the language code (TXTDT_LCD) for the text data inthe text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP (step ST3).

The flow of the video signal in video-recording is as follows.

First, the AV signal inputted from the tuner 108 or AV input section isA/D converted by the A/D converter 201. The video signal is inputted tothe video encoder 202. The audio signal is inputted to the audio encoder203. The tuner 108 inputs the closed caption signal or the text signalfor the subtitle data in teletext or the like to the SP encoder 204. Thetext information other than the subtitle data is transferred to the mainMPU section 101. When receiving the text information other than thesubtitles, the main MPU section 101 stores the text information in thetext buffer 101 b temporarily and records it at the end of thevideo-recording.

Each of the encoders 202, 203, 204 compresses the signal and separatedinto packets (here, the data is separated into packets in such a mannerthat each pack contains 2048 bytes when the data is packed). Theresulting data is inputted to the formatter 205. Here, the decoders 202,203, 204 determine PTS and DTS for each packet according to the value ofthe STC unit 109 as the need arises, and record them.

The formatter 205 records the packet data into the buffer memory 206temporarily, and thereafter packs each of the inputted packet dataitems, mixes them GOP by GOP, adds an NV pack to the head of the GOP,and inputs the resulting set of packs to the data processor 103.

The data processor 103 puts together the packs in units of 16 packs intoECC groups, puts ECC to them, and sends them to the disc drive 102. Whenthe disc drive 102 is not ready to record data onto the optical disc 1,the data processor 103 transfers the ECC groups to the temporary storagebuffer 105 and waits for the disc drive 102 to be ready to record data.When being ready for recording, the disc drive 102 starts recording(step ST4).

A Here, the temporary storage buffer 105 is assumed to have a largememory capacity, because it holds several minutes of recording data inhigh-speed access.

At the end of video-recording, the address data about each NV pack isrecorded in the fast-forward and rewind data part in each NV pack, andthe information necessary after the video-recording is recorded in themanagement area, which completes the video-recording operation (stepST5).

The main MPU section 101 is capable of reading and writing data from andinto the data processor 103 via a bus to read and write data from andinto the file management area.

At the end of the video-recording, the main MPU section 101 records thetext information reordered in the text buffer 101 b into the area (seeFIGS. 4(a), (b), and (d)) for the item text (IT_TXT) in the text datalanguage unit TXTDT_LU in the text data manager in VMGI (step ST6).

In addition, the main MPU section 101 records the language code into thearea (see FIGS. 4(a), (b), and (d)) for the language code (TXTDT_LCD) inthe text data in the text data language unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP(step ST6). It also records other management data.

At the end of the video-recording, the main MPU section 101 records thevideo-recording end date and time as primary text information into thecell playback information C_PBI shown in FIG. 6(d) or into the programinformation shown in FIG. 6(e) (step ST7).

At this time, to relate the primary text information to the program inwhich the text information has been recorded, the main MPU section 101records the item text number indicating the position in which the textinformation has been recorded into the cell playback information C_PBIshown in FIG. 6(d) or into the program information shown in FIG. 6 (3)(step ST7).

Next, the data processing in playback will be explained.

First, when receiving a playback instruction, the main MPU section 101reads the management area from the disc drive 102 via the data processor103 and determines the address to be reproduced. Then, the main MPUsection 101 sends the address for the determined data to be reproducedand a read instruction to the disc drive 102.

The disc drive 102 reads the sector data from the optical disc 1according to the received read instruction. Then, the data processor 103performs error correction and sends the resulting data in pack data formto the decoder unit 106.

In the decoder unit 106, the separator 301 receives the read-out packdata, separates the data into packets. According to the purpose of thedata, the separator 301 transfers the video packet data (MPEG videodata) to the video decoder 302, the audio packet data to the audiodecoder 303, and the sup-picture packet data to the SP decoder 303. Inaddition, the separator 301 stores the NV packs into an internal memoryto enable the main MPU section 101 to process them in such a manner thatthe main MPU 101 can access them at any time.

The PTS in each of the sent packet data items is loaded into the STCunit 109 at the time of transfer start (that is, the main MPU section101 sets the PTS in an NV pack into the STC unit 109, or the videodecoder 302 automatically sets the PTS in the video data into the STCunit 109). Thereafter, each of the decoders 302, 303, 304 carries out aplayback process in synchronization with the value of the PTS(Presentation Time Stamp) in the packet data (while comparing the PTSwith the value of the STC unit 109), thereby reproducing moving pictureswith subtitles on the TV monitor 113. The presentation of the playbacktime during playback shows the playback time data in the NV pack inDVD-ROM video.

Next, the process of retrieving a program using the text informationwill be described by reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 10 andexamples of display shown by 113 a to 113 f in FIG. 11.

First, when the user presses a menu search key in the key input section120, the main MPU section 101 judges the menu retrieval mode and readsVTSI from the optical disc 1, using the disc drive 102 and dataprocessor 103 (step ST11).

On the basis of the read VTSI, the main MPU section 101 effects theinitial setting of each of the decoders 302, 303, 304 (step ST12).

Additionally, the main MPU section 101 displays a retrieval initialscreen on which the message that “ENTER VIDEO-RECORDING DATE AND TIMEAND CHANNEL NUMBER” as shown by 113 a in FIG. 11 (step ST13).

According to the guide on the screen, the user enters thevideo-recording date and time and channel numbers (step ST14).

Instead of those items, the user may enter the video-recording time orsource name (i.e., the TV channel number, satellite channel number, orcamera input). The main MPU section 101 displays the contents of theinput (e.g., TV channel 12) on the TV monitor 113 as shown by 113 b inFIG. 11.

When the video-recording date and channel number have been entered, themain MPU section 101 causes the primary text determination unit 101 a toread the alphanumeric priority text information written for each programor cell (in the cell playback information C_PBI in FIG. 6(d) or in theprogram information in FIG. 6(e)) (step ST15).

Then, the priority text determination section 101 retrieves or searchesthe corresponding program or cell according to the enteredvideo-recording date and channel number (step ST16).

Then, the main MPU section 101 stores the number of programs or cellsretrieved by the primary text determination unit 101 a and the firstsensed program number or cell number (step ST17).

Thereafter, the main MPU section 101 reads the primary text informationwritten in alphanumeric characters in the programs or cells retrieved bythe primary text determination unit 101 a and displays it on the TVmonitor 113 as shown by 113 c in FIG. 11 (step ST18).

In this case, for programs on TV channel 12, the following aredisplayed: 1. Jul. 12, 1998, 17:00 -17:29, 2. Jul. 21, 1998,21:00-21:59, 3. Aug. 9, 1998, 1:00-1:59.

If the search key is not pressed (NO at step ST21) in the display stateat step ST18, control proceeds to step ST19.

Here, if the primary text information in a program or cell is chosen bythe cursor (step ST19), the main MPU section 101 searches for the targetprogram or cell and goes to a playback process (step ST20).

Specifically, when number 2 is chosen, the main MPU section 101additionally displays the guide message “PROGRAM NO. 2 IS GOING TO BEREPRODUCED” as shown by 113 e in FIG. 11 and proceeds to the process ofreproducing program No. 2 or cell No. 2.

If the search key is pressed (YES at step ST21) in the display state atstep ST18, control goes to step ST22.

When the search key is pressed, the main MPU section 101 displays theguide message “ENTER THE CHARACTERS TO BE SEARCHED FOR” on the display113 as shown by 113 d in FIG. 11 (step ST22).

Following the guide, the user enters a keyword, or the characters to besearched for, from the key input section 120 (step ST23).

When the keyword has been entered, the main MPU section 101 causes thelanguage code detector 101 dto read the language code (recorded in thearea for the language code (TXTDT_LCD) in the text data in the text datalanguage unit search pointer TXTDT_LU_SRP) on the basis of the text itemnumber corresponding to the primary text information in each of theretrieved programs or cells (or on the basis of the text item numberrecorded in the cell playback information C_PBI of FIG. 6(d) or in theprogram information of FIG. 6(e) so as to correspond to the primary textinformation). Then, the main MPU section 101 causes the language checker101 e to search for a program or cell that corresponds to the languagecode of the apparatus (step ST24).

As a result of the search, if a program or cell that coincides with thelanguage code of the apparatus has been found (YES at step ST25A), themain MPU section 101 reads the text information corresponding to theprogram or cell that coincides with the language code and makes a searchusing the keyword (stet ST25).

As a result of the search, the main MPU section 101 additionallydisplays the primary text information in the program or cell coincidingthe language code on the TV monitor 113 (step ST26).

For example, when the user enters “NONFICTION” on the input screen forcharacters to be searched for, the main MPU section 101 additionallydisplays the primary text information “Jul. 21, 1998, 21:00-21:59”corresponding to the text information “NONFICTION” on the TV monitor 113as shown by 113 f in FIG. 11.

In this state, control goes to the process of reproducing the program orcell corresponding to the selected primary text information.

At step ST24, if there is no program or cell that coincides with thelanguage code of the apparatus (NO at step ST25A), the main MPU section101 displays the guide message “NO PROGRAM IN THE CORRESPONDING LANGUAGEHAS BEEN FOUND” on the TV monitor 113 (step ST27).

As described above, when moving pictures are recorded on an opticaldisc, not only is text data is recorded, but also primary text dataincluding the video-recording start date and time, the video-recordingend date and time, and source name or channel number are recorded inalphanumeric characters for each program or cell as a unit ofvideo-recording. Other text data is recorded together with the languagecode.

As a result, even when there are various languages for the text data inplayback, since the primary text data including the video-recordingstart date and time, the video-recording end date and time, and thesource name or channel number are expressed in alphanumeric characters,the program or cell to be reproduced on the basis of the video-recordingstart date and time, the video-recording end date and time, and thesource name or channel number expressed in alphanumeric characters canbe selected. Additionally, the text information in the same languagecode as that of the apparatus can be searched for.

When the text information in the same language code as that of theapparatus is searched for, a warning can be given to the user, if notext information in the same language code has been found.

FIG. 12 shows an example of display using the text information.

It is assumed that, for example, a TV program with the title“NONFICTION” has been recorded on the optical disc (DVD_RTR disc) 10 ofFIG. 1 as test information on program #1.

In addition, it is assumed that IT_TXT_SRPN “2” (=IT_TXT_SRP #2) hasbeen recorded as a search pointer indicating the item text correspondingto program #1.

In this case, if the title of program #1 “NONFICTION” has been used asprimary text information PRM_TXTI, the search pointer IT_TXT_SRP #2 issearched for on the basis of the text information “NONFICTION”. Usingthe IT_TXT_SRP #2, the corresponding item text IT_TXT is read from thedisc 10.

The item text IT_TXT has any one of the following structures:

(1) Identification code IDCD, text size TXT_SZ, and the body of textTXT.

(2) Identification code IDCD and text size TXT_SZ (here, TXT is abscentor TXT is optional).

FIG. 12 shows an example of the structure of item (1).

The identification code IDCD constituting the item text IT_TXT iscomposed of code, type, and item name.

The item name is used to represent a movie, a TV station (or radiostation), a memo, or the like.

The type is used to represent a genre of movie, music, drama, or thelike or a source of broadcasting station, camera, or the like.

The code is used to determine the item name and type.

For example, when the code is 60h, this means that the source of thecorresponding program is “BROADCASTING STATION.” When the code is 30h,this means that the genre of the corresponding program is “MOVIE.”

In the example of FIG. 12, the information that the TV program“NONFICTION” on TV channel 12 recorded from 21:00 to 21:59, Jul. 21,1998, was recorded as program #1 on the disc 10 has been displayed onthe TV monitor 113.

FIG. 12 shows “98.07.21 21:00-21:59” as an example of the item text andthe title of the program “NONFICTION” as an example of the primary textinformation. On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a similar video-recordingdate as an example of the primary text information.

The reason why the example of FIG. 11 is made different from that ofFIG. 12 is to provide various forms. A certain piece of text information(e.g., video-recording date and time information) is not necessarilylimited to either the primary text information or the item textinformation.

One information recording medium that enables the recording andreproducing of video information or music information is a DVD_RTR disc(an optical disc using phase change) as shown in FIG. 13(A). The DVDvideo recorder (DVD_RTR recorder) of FIG. 1 can use a disc with astructure as shown in FIG. 13.

The contents of the information (data structure) recorded on the disc 10will be explained below.

FIG. 13(B) shows a rough data structure of information recorded on theoptical disc 10. In FIG. 13(B), a lead-in area 1002, volume & filemanager information 1003, a data area 1004, and a lead-out area 1005 arearranged in that order from the inner circumference side 1006 toward theouter edge of the optical disc 1001.

The lead-in area 1002 has an embossed data zone where the lightreflecting surface is bumpy, a mirror zone where the surface is flat(mirror like), and a rewritable data zone where information can berewritten.

The volume & file manager information 1003 is recorded in a rewritabledata zone where the user can record or rewrite data. In the volume &file manager information, information on all of the audio & video data(AV data) files or volumes is stored.

The data area 1004 has a rewritable data zone where the user can recordor rewrite data.

The lead-out area 1005 is made up of a rewritable data zone whereinformation can be rewritten.

In the embossed data zone of the lead-in area 1002, the following piecesof information have been recorded beforehand:

Information on the disc type, such as DVD-ROM/DVD-RAM/DVD-R, the discsize, and the recording density, information on all of the informationstorage medium, including physical sector numbers indicating therecording start/recording end positions.

Information on recording, reproducing, and erasing characteristics,including the recording power, recording pulse width, erasing power,reproducing power, and linear velocity in recording or erasing.

Information on the manufacture of individual information storagemediums, including serial numbers.

Each of the rewritable zone in the lead-in area 1002 and that in thelead-out area 1005 has the following:

A unique disc name recording area for each information storage medium.

A trial recording area (for checking the recording and erasingconditions).

A management information recording area for defective areas in the dataarea 1004.

The information recording and reproducing apparatus can recordinformation onto each of those areas.

In the data area 1004 sandwiched between the lead-in area 1002 and thelead-out area 1005, computer data and audio & video data (AV data) canbe recorded in such a manner that they are intermingled as shown in FIG.13(C).

The order in which computer data and audio & video data are recorded andthe recording information size of them are arbitrary. The areas in whichcomputer data is recorded are called computer data areas 1008, 1010. Thearea in which audio & video data is recorded is called an audio & videodata area 1009.

As shown in FIG. 13(D), the data structure of information recorded inthe audio & video data area 1009 includes the following:

Anchor pointer 1015 for control information, which is placed at the headof the audio & video data area 1009 and points at the start position(start address) in which the control information 1011 in the audio &video data area 1009 has been recorded.

Control information 1011 necessary to perform each of video-recording(audio-recording), reproducing, editing, and retrieving processes.

A video object 1012 of video-recording information on the contents ofthe video data.

A picture object 1013 of information on still pictures, including slidepictures.

An audio object 1014 of audio-recording information on the contents ofthe audio data.

A thumbnail object 1016 of reduced image information, such as thumbnailinformation, used in editing when the desired part in the video data issearched for.

Each of the video objects 1012, picture objects 1013, audio objects1014, and thumbnail objects 1016 shown in FIG. 13(D) means a group ofinformation classified by the contents of data.

Therefore, all the video information recorded in the audio & video dataarea 1009 is included in the video objects 1012, all the still pictureinformation is included in the picture objects 1013, all the audioinformation is included in the audio objects 1014, and all the thumbnailinformation used for management and search of the video information isincluded in the thumbnail objects 1016.

As shown in FIG. 13(E), the contents of the control information 1011include the following:

AV data control information 1101, which controls the data structure ofthe video object 1012 and is management information about information onthe recording position on an optical disc 10 serving as an informationstorage medium.

Playback control information 1021, which is control informationnecessary in playback.

Recording control information 1022, which is control informationnecessary in recording (video-recording and audio-recording).

Edit control information 1023, which is control information necessary inediting.

Thumbnail control information 1024, which is management information onthumbnails (thumbnail objects) for retrieving the desired portion of thevideo data or for editing.

The pieces of control information 1101, 1021 of FIG. 13(E) correspond toRTR. IFO (VR_MANGR. IFO) of FIG. 14 and RTR_VMG of FIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 3(F), the data structure of the AV data controlinformation 1101 of FIG. 13(E) includes the following:

An allocation map table 1105, which lists information on the addresssetting along the actual layout on an information recording medium(optical disc 10), the discrimination between recorded areas andunrecorded areas, and others.

Video title set information VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106, which shows theoverall contents of the AV files and includes information on the linkbetween VOBs, grouping information on VOBs for management and search,and time information, such as a time map table (corresponding toRTR_VMGI of FIG. 16).

Video object information 1107, which shows information on each of theVOBS in the AV files and includes information on the attribute(characteristic) of each VOB and information on each VOBU included inVOB (corresponding to M_AVFIT/S_AVFIT of FIG. 16).

Program chain control information 1103, which is information on a videoinformation playback program (sequence) (corresponding to PGCI of FIG.17).

Cell playback information 1108, which is information on the datastructure of a video information basic unit in playback (correspondingto CI of FIG. 17).

What has been described above is a general view of FIGS. 13(A) to (F).Some supplementary explanation will be given about each piece ofinformation.

What have been recorded in the volume & file manager information 1003are the following:

Information on all the volume.

Information on the number of files of contained PC data and the numberof files of AV data.

Recording layer information.

The following are recorded as the recording layer information:

The number of component layers (e.g., a single. RAM/ROM two-layer discis counted as two layers, a single ROM two-layer disc is counted as twolayers, and an n number of single-sided discs are counted as n layers).

A logical sector number range table allocated to each layer (a capacityfor each layer).

Characteristics for each layer (e.g., a DVD-RAM disc, the RAM section ofa RAM/ROM two-layer disc, a CD-ROM, and a CD-R).

A logical sector number range table allocated zone by zone in the RAMarea for each layer (including information on the capacity of therewritable area for each layer).

ID information unique to each layer (e.g., information used to find discreplacement in a multiple-disc pack).

The recording layer information makes it possible to set consecutivelogical sector numbers to a multiple-disc pack or a RAM/ROM two-layerdisc to create a single large volume space.

Furthermore, the following are recorded in the playback controlinformation 1021:

Information on a playback sequence for the integration of program chainsPGCs.

The information (the sequence for reproducing all the recorded cellsconsecutively) indicating spurious recording positions when aninformation storage medium is regarded as a single tape, such as a VTRor a DVC.

Information on simultaneous playback of plural screens with differentpieces of video information.

Retrieval information (that causes the corresponding ID and the starttime table in the cell to be recorded for each retrieval category andenables the user to select a category and access the video informationdirectly).

In the recording control information 1022, program reserved recordinginformation and others have been recorded.

Additionally, the following are recorded in the edit control information1023:

Special edit information for each PGC (where the relevant time settinginformation and special edit content are written as EDL information).

File conversion information (information used to convert a specific partof an AV file into a file capable of special editing on a PC, such as anAVI file and specify a place to store the converted file.

The following has been recorded in the thumbnail information 1024:

Management information on the thumbnail objects 1016, which includes therecording location of each thumbnail picture in the AV data area 1009,information used to specify the VOBs or cells to which each thumbnailpicture relates, and information on the positions of the VOBs or cellsto which each thumbnail picture relates.

Next, the directory structure of a data file stored onto the disc 10 ofFIG. 13 will be explained.

All the information recorded in the data area 1004 of FIG. 13(B) isrecorded in files. The relationship between data files is managed in theform of a directory structure as shown in FIG. 14.

In FIG. 14, subdirectories 1451 are placed under a root directory 1450to facilitate classification by the contents of a file recorded.

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, each data file of the computer datarecorded in the computer data areas 1008, 1010 of FIG. 13(C) is recordedunder a computer data storage subdirectory 1457. In addition, theaudio/video data recorded in the audio & video data area 1009 isrecorded under the rewritable video title set RWV_TS (DVD_RTAV) 1452.

When the video information recorded on a DVD video disc (or DVD audiodisc) is copied onto the disc of FIG. 13(A), the video information iscopied under the video title set VIDEO_TS 1455 and audio title setAUDIO_TS 1456.

The control signal 1011 of FIG. 13(D) is recorded asrecording/reproducing video management data into a single file. In theembodiment of FIG. 14, the file name is called RWVIDEO_CONTROL. IFO (orreal-time recording information, abbreviated as RTR. IFO or VR_MANGR.IFO). Additionally, the same information is recorded as a backup copyunder the file name RWVIDEO_CONTROL.BUP (or VR_MANGR. BUP).

In the embodiment of FIG. 14, the video objects (RTR_MOV. VRO orVR_MOVIE. VRO) 1012, picture objects (RTR_STO. VRO or VR_STILL. VRO)1013, audio objects (RTR_STA. VRO or VR_AUDIO. VRO) 1014, and thumbnailobjects 1016 in FIG. 13(D) are all recorded into a single AV file 1401(whose file name in the embodiment of FIG. 14 is RWOBJECT.OB).

Although not shown in FIG. 13, recording/reproducing additionalinformation 1454 usable in recording and reproducing pictures can berecorded at the same time. All the information is recorded into a singlefile, whose file name is RWADD.DAT in the embodiment of FIG. 14.

Next, the contents of the playback control signal 1021 in FIG. 13(E)will be explained by reference to FIG. 15. FIG. 15 particularly showsthe data structure of the program chain control information (UD_PGCITand the like).

The program chain PGC control information 1103 in the playback controlinformation 1021 has a data structure shown in FIG. 15. The playbacksequence of the program chain PGC control information 1103 is determinedby a program chains PGC and cells. The PGC is a unit in executing aseries of playback specifying the order in which cells are reproduced. Acell is a playback section where the playback data in each VOB isspecified using a start address and an end address.

The program chain control information 1103 is composed of PGCinformation management information (or PGCI management information)1052, one or more search pointers for PGC information (or PGCI searchpointers) 1053, 1054, and pieces of PGC information (PGCI) 1055, 1056,1057.

The PGC information-management-information (or PGCI managementinformation) 1052 includes information (PGCN) on the number of programchains PGCs. The search pointers for PGC information (or PGCI searchpointers) 1053, 1054 point at the head of each PGC information (PGCI)and make it easy to search.

Each piece of the PGC information 1055, 1056, 1057 includes PGC generalinformation (PGC_GI) 1061, one or more pieces of program information(PGI #m), one or more cell IDs (or cell information search pointersCI_SRP #m), and one or more pieces of cell information (CI #n).

The PGC general information (PGC_GI) 1061 includes the playback time ofprogram chains PGCs and information on the number of cells (the numberof pieces of cell playback information).

Alternatively, the PGC general information (PGC_GI) 1061 may includeinformation (PG_Ns) indicating the number of programs PG and information(CI_SRP_Ns) indicating the number of cell information search pointersCI_SRP.

Here, it is assumed that the playback data is specified in a playbacksection from cell A to cell F and PGC information is defined in eachPGC. In this case, for example, the following hold true, although notshown:

1. PGC #1 is made up of cells specifying consecutive playback sections.The playback sequence is Cell A→Cell B→Cell C.

2. PGC #2 is made up of cells specifying intermittent playback sections.The playback sequence is Cell D→Cell E→Cell F.

3. PGC #3 allows cells to be reproduced disorderly, regardless of thedirection of playback or repetitive playback. The playback sequence isCell E→Cell A→Cell D→Cell B→Cell E.

As shown in FIG. 13(E), control information (RTR. IFO or VR_MANGR. IFO)1011 in FIG. 13 or 14 includes the navigation data RTR_VMG (real-timerecording video manager) corresponding to the pieces of controlinformation 1101 and 1021. The RTR_VMG, as shown in FIG. 13(F), includesvideo title set information VTSI (or RTR_VMG information RTR_VMGI) 1106.

The information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 includes the information used inreproducing the sequence of VOB.

FIG. 16 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of managementinformation (video title set information VTSI or management informationRTR_VMGI for video real-time recording).

Hereinafter, RTR_VMG of FIG. 13 (or RTR. IFO of FIG. 14), its datastructure, and its contents will be described by reference to FIG. 16.

As shown in FIG. 16, the navigation data RTR_VMG (control informationRTR. IFO or VR_MANGR. IFO) includes RTR video manager information(RTR_VMGI), a movie AV file information table (M_AVFIT), a still pictureAV file information table (S_AVFIT), an original PGC information(ORG_PGCI), a user-defined PGC information table (UD_PGCIT), a text datamanager (TXTDT_MG), and a table of information on manufacturer (MNFIT).

The TXTDI_MG, which has a structure as shown by (d) and (e) in FIG. 4,includes text data information (TXTDTI), one or more item text searchpointers (IT_TXT_SRP #1 to IT_TXT_SRP #n), and one or more item texts(IT_TXT).

TXTDT_MG can be used as sub-information for the primary text informationin a play list or a program.

Each IT_TXT_SRP # has the start address (IT_TXT_SA) for thecorresponding IT_TXT and the size (IT_TXT-SZ) of the IT_TXT.

Each IT_TXT has information on the body of the corresponding text (textexpressed in the character code determined by CHRS in FIG. 4(e)).

The RTR_VMGI included in the RTR_VMG corresponds to video title setinformation (VTSI) 1106 in FIG. 13(F).

The information (RTR_VMGI) 1106, as shown in FIG. 16, includes VTSgeneral information 1751, VOB sequence information 1752, PTT information1753, and a VTS time map table 1754.

From a different point of view, the information (RTR_VMGI) 1106 includesa play list search pointer table (PL_SRPT) corresponding to VOB sequenceinformation 1752 and a video manager information management table(VMGI_MAT) corresponding to VTS general information 1751.

The PL_SRPT includes information (PL_SRPTI) 1756 on the number of VOBSin VTS (or the number of play list search pointers and the end addressfor PL_SRPT), information 1757 on ID of the first VOB in a VOB sequence(or the first play list search pointer PL_SRP #1), information 1758 onID of the second VOB in the VOB sequence (or the second play list searchpointer PL_SRP #2), . . . , and the like.

Each play list search pointer (PL_SRP #) includes information (PL_TY) onthe form of the play list, information (PGCN) on the number of the PGCcorresponding to the play list, information (PL_CREATE_TM) on the dateand time at which the play list was created, information (PRM_TXTI) onthe primary text related to the play list, information (IT_TXTI_SRPN) onthe number of the search pointer for the item text used in the playlist, and thumbnail pointer information (THM_PTRI) indicating thereduced pictures (thumbnail pictures) corresponding to the contents ofthe video-recording of the play list (FIG. 16 shows only PRM_TXTI andIT_TXT_SRPN in PL_SRP #1).

The table (PL_SRPT) including those pieces of information 1756, 1757,1758, . . . corresponds to the VOB sequence information 1752 included inVTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106.

The contents of the VTSI (RTR_VMGI) 1106 are summarized as follows.

As shown in FIG. 16, the following are recorded in the video title setinformation (VTSI or RTR_VMGI) 1106:

Video title set general information 1751, which is information on itemsin the general contents of a video title set (or RTR data in the AV file1401 of FIG. 14).

Video object sequence information 1752, in which information on thesequence of the VOBs is written, the sequence coming from the serialnumbers assigned to all the VOBs in the video title set VTS (=AV file1401).

Part-of-title information 1753, in which VOB information included ineach part-of-title PTT is written, each group (part-of-title PTT)consisting of a set of VOBS, each group being assigned a video titlename, and the object data items recorded in the AV file 1401 beinggrouped by related data for the purpose of data management andretrieval.

A video title set time map table 1754, which lists pieces of VOBUpositional information at specific intervals of time according to thevideo object sequence about the VOBs classified into video objects 1012and audio objects 1014 in the video title set VTS.

In a concrete data structure of the video object sequence information1752, the total number of VOBs (or play list search pointer informationPL SRPTI) 1756 included in the video title set is recorded at the headat right in FIG. 16. Following that, VOB_IDs 1757, 1758, . . . of thecorresponding VOBs (or PL_SRPs #1, #2, . . . , #n) are recorded in thatorder according to the sequence of the video objects.

The sequence shown in the video object sequence information 1752 can beset arbitrarily on the user side or the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus side, for example, in the order in whichrecording was done into an AV file (or in ascending order of recordingtime), in the order of recording location on an optical disc, or in theorder of VOB size.

By arranging all the VOBs sequentially in the video title set, a userinterface similar to a VTR that records pictures on a single tape can beprovided.

For example, using the video object sequence information 1752, thefollowing process can be performed:

The process of searching for the desired place by fast-forwarding (FF)and rewinding (FR) the tape.

The process of checking the entire contents of the recording byfast-forwarding the tape.

The process of finding the unnecessary video-recorded place byfast-forwarding (FF) and rewinding (FR) the tape and writing new videoinformation over the unnecessary place.

FIG. 17 is a diagram to help explain the data structure of the controlinformation/navigation data (RTR VMG) of FIG. 13 or 16.

The RTR_VMG corresponds to the pieces of control information 1101 and1021 in FIG. 13(E) and to the control information (RTR. IFO or VR_MANGR.IFO) 1011 in the file structure of FIG. 14.

In the navigation data RTR_VMG, a user-defined PGC information tableUD_PGCIT is composed of user-defined PGC information table information(UD_PGCITI), one or more user-defined information search pointers #1 to#n (UD_PGCI_SRP #1 to UD_PGCI_SRP #n), and as many pieces ofuser-defined PGC information as the number of those search pointers #1to #n (UD_PGCI #1 to UD_PGCI #n).

Each piece of user-defined PGC information (one of UD_PGCI #1 to UD_PGCI#n) or PGC information #i (PGCI #i) corresponding in content to theoriginal PGC information (ORG_PGCI) is composed of PGC generalinformation (PGC_GI), one or more pieces of program information #1 to #m(PGI #1 to PGI #m), one or more cell information search pointers #1 to#n (CI_SRP #1 to CI_SRP #n), and as many pieces of cell information #1to #1 n as the number of those search pointers (CI #1 to CI #n).

Each piece of program information (e.g., PGI #1) includes a program type(PG_TY) including a protect flag that determines whether the relevantprogram should be protected from erroneous deletion, the number of cells(C_Ns) in the program, primary text information (PRM_TXTI), an item textsearch pointer number (IT_TXT_SRPN), and thumbnail pointer information(THM_PTRI).

Here, the first 64 bits in the 128-byte PRM_TXTI are used in describingprimary text using the ISO/IEC 646:1983 (ASCII) character set. If thetext is shorter than 64 bytes, the deficiency is supplemented with “00h”to produce 64 bytes of text.

The last 64 bits in the 128-byte PRM_TXTI can be used in describingprimary text using another character set.

Another character set can be determined by the primary text characterset code (CHRS, not shown) written in the VMG management table(VMGI_MAT) in FIG. 16 or 17.

The character set for the last 64 bits in the PRM_TXTI is shared by allthe primary texts on the disc 10.

Each cell information search pointer (one of CI_SRP #1 to CI_SRP #n)includes the start address (CI_SA) of the corresponding piece of cellinformation. Each piece of cell information (one of CI #1 to CI #n)includes information (M_CI) on movie cells or information (S_CI) onstill picture cells.

Each M_CI and/or each S_CI can include primary text information PRM_TXTItherein.

Here, RTR_VMGI in FIG. 17 corresponds to video title set information inFIG. 13(F), M_AVFIT and S_AVFIT in FIG. 17 corresponds to the videoobject information 1107 in FIG. 13(F), and ORG_PGCI and UD_PGCIT in FIG.17 corresponds to the PGC control information 1103 in FIG. 13(F).

Additionally, PGCI #i in FIG. 17 corresponds to the PGC controlinformation 1103 in FIG. 13 (F) and CI # corresponds to the cellplayback information 1108 in FIG. 13(F).

FIG. 18 is a diagram to help explain an example of the structure of theoriginal PGC information (ORG_PGCI in FIG. 16 or 17) including stillpicture VOBs (RTR_STO. VRO files) and movie VOBS (RTR_MOV. VRO files).

In FIG. 18, it is assumed that program #1 in PGCI #1 corresponds to VTS,S_VOGI #1 and S_VOGI #2 correspond to more than one VOB, and M_VOBI #1and M_VOBI #2 correspond to more than one VOB.

On this assumption, picture objects 1013 constitute the contents (videopart and audio part) of the RTR_STO. VRO (or VR_STILL. VRO) file in FIG.18 and video objects 1012 constitute the contents (VOB #1, VOB #2, . . .) of the RTR_MOV. VRO (or VR_MOVIE. VRO) file in FIG. 18.

In FIG. 18, cell # in PGCI can be linked with a VOB entry in S_VOGI #.

Additionally, the logical address for the video part or audio part inthe RTR_STO. VRO file can be linked with the VOB number specified in aVOB entry in S_VOGI #.

Here, a time map TMAP in M_VOBI # in FIG. 18 will be explained.

The movie AV file information table M_AVFIT in FIG. 16 or 17, althoughnot shown, includes movie AV file information general information(M_AVFI_GI), one or more movie VOB information search pointers(M_VOBI_SRP #1 to MVOBI_SRP #n), and as many pieces of movie VOBinformation as the number of those search pointers (M_VOBI #1 to M_VOBI#n).

Each M_VOBI #, although not shown, includes movie VOB generalinformation (M_VOBI_GI), seamless information (SMLI), audio gapinformation (AGAPI), and time map information (TMAPI).

The TMAPI is used in performing special playback (e.g., reproduction ofcells in the order determined by each user using the user-defined PGC)and time search.

The TMPI, although not shown, includes time map general information(TMAP_GI), one or more time entires (TM_ENT #1 to TM_ENT #r), and one ormore VOB entries (VOBU_ENT #1 to VOBU_ENT #q).

Each VOBU entry includes information on the size of each VOBU and itsplayback time. The size of a VOBU is expressed in sectors (2 kilobytesor 2048 bytes) and the playback time is expressed in video fields (onefield is equivalent to {fraction (1/60)} second in the NTSC system andto {fraction (1/50)} second in the PAL system).

Since the size of a VOBU is expressed in sectors, it is possible toaccess a VOBU using an address in sectors.

Each VOBU entry, although not shown, includes reference picture sizeinformation 1 STREF_SZ, VOBU playback time information VOBU_PB_TM, andVOBU size information VOBU_SZ.

Here, VOBU_PB_TM is the playback time of the relevant VOBU expressed invideo fields. The reference picture'size information 1 STREF_SZ is thesize of the first reference picture of the relevant VOBU (correspondingto I picture in MPEG).

On the other hand, each time entry, although not shown, includes addressinformation (VOBU_ADR) on the corresponding VOBU and time differenceinformation (TM_DIEF). The time difference information represents thedifference between the playback time specified by the time entry and theplayback start time of the VOBU.

Now, if the time interval (time unit TMU) between two consecutive timeentries is 10 seconds, the interval-between the time entries correspondsto 60 fields in the NTSC video.

Although the time interval between VOBUs is generally expressed by thenumber of fields, it may be expressed by the value of a clock counterthat counts from a VOBU to the next VOBU.

As a concrete example, the time interval between VOBUs may be expressedby the value of the difference between the presentation time stamp PTSat the start position of one VOBU and the PTS at the start position ofthe immediately following VOBU.

In other words, the time interval in the unit can be expressed by thevalue of the difference between the values of the clock counter in aspecific unit.

The time map general information TMAP_GI, although not shown, includesTM_ENT_Ns representing the number of time entries in the relevant timemap information, VOBU_ENT_Ns representing the number of VOBU entries inthe time map information, time offset TM_OSF for the time mapinformation, and the address offset ADR_OFS for the time mapinformation.

In a case where the value (equivalent to 10 seconds) corresponding to600 fields in the NTSC video (or 500 fields in the PAL video) is set asa time unit, the time offset TM_OSF is used to express a shift in timein TMU.

When the size of a VOB is expressed by the number of sectors, theaddress offset AD_OFS is used to express a file pointer from the head ofan AV file.

The time entry TM_ENT, although not shown, includes VOBU_ENTN indicatingthe number of the corresponding VOBU entry, TM_DIFF representing thedifference in time between the playback start time for the VOBUspecified by the time entry and the calculated playback time, andVOBU_ADR indicating the target VOBU address.

If a time unit TMU is expressed by 600 fields in the NTSC system (or atime unit TMU is expressed by 500 fields in the PAL system), thecalculated playback time for time entry #j is expressed byTMU×(j−1)+TM_OSF.

If the VOBU size is expressed in sectors, the VOBU_ADR represents thetarget VOBU address in the total size of the preceding VOBUs in therelevant VOB.

In the data structure as described above, to start playback in themiddle of a VOBU, its access point must be determined. The access pointis defined as a time entry point.

The time entry point is a distance equivalent to the time differenceindicated by TM_DIFF in the time entry TM_ENT away from the positionrepresented by the movie address information in VOBU. The time entrypoint is a special playback start point (or time search point) indicatedby the time map information TMAPI.

In FIG. 18, cell # in PGCI can be linked with the time map TMAP inM_VOBI # as is S_VOGI #.

FIG. 18 shows a case where the video field corresponding to the playbackstart time exists in the middle of VOBU #k. To represent the sequence ofthe video field group from the video field determined by the playbackstart time, it is necessary to enter the VOBU data to the decoder,starting at the head of the data. The reason is that even when thedecoded fields are not be displayed, it is necessary to decode all thereference video fields having the playback time earlier than theplayback start time. When the decoding work has reached the video fieldcorresponding to the playback start time, the decoder starts to displayvideo pictures.

It is desirable that the system should be constructed in such a mannerthat it can start to display pictures exactly from the video fieldcorresponding to the playback start time, although this is notnecessarily needed.

As described in detail, with the present invention, it is possible toprovide an optical disc, an optical disc recording apparatus, and anoptical disc reproducing apparatus which are capable of multilingualtext retrieval.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information storage medium comprising amanagement area and a data area, said data area being provided forrecording data in such a manner that the data is managed by one or moresequences and at least one sequence is composed of one or more programscorresponding to one or more cells, said management area including: asequence management table for managing one or more program sequences bydetermining an order of playback of said cells, and including a programmanagement table for managing said programs, wherein said programmanagement table is configured to store first primary text informationexpressed in characters, a play list search pointer table arranged todescribe information for searching and accessing play lists, whereinsaid play list search pointer table is configured to store secondprimary text information expressed in characters, and a specific area,which is different from a recording area of said program managementtable in said management area, is configured to store first item textinformation and second item text information, said program managementtable being configured to further record search information whichincludes a search pointer number of the first item text information,said play list search pointer table being configured to further recordsearch information which includes a search pointer number of the seconditem text information, said specific area being configured to furtherstore first and second item text search pointers indicating locations ofthe first item text information and the second item text information,respectively, the search pointer number of the program management tablecorresponding to the first item text search pointer relating to thefirst item text information, and the search pointer number of the playlist search pointer table corresponding to the second item text searchpointer relating to the second item text information, said first itemtext information and said second item text information beingrespectively used as sub-information of the first primary textinformation and the second primary text information, and said first itemtext search pointer and said second item text search pointerrespectively including start address information of said first item textinformation and said second item text information.
 2. An informationrecording method for recording information on an information recordingmedium which includes, a management area and a data area, said data areabeing provided for recording data in such a manner that the data ismanaged by one or more sequences and at least one sequence is composedof one or more programs corresponding to one or more cells, saidmanagement area including: a sequence management table for managing oneor more program sequences by determining an order of playback of saidcells, and including a program management table for managing saidprograms, wherein said program management table is configured to storefirst primary text information expressed in characters, a play listsearch pointer table arranged to describe information for searching andaccessing play lists, wherein said play list search pointer table isconfigured to store second primary text information expressed incharacters, and a specific area, which is different from a recordingarea of said program management table in said management area, isconfigured to store first item text information and second item textinformation, said program management table being configured to furtherrecord search information which includes a search pointer number of thefirst item text information, said play list search pointer table beingconfigured to further record search information which includes a searchpointer number of the second item text information, said specific areabeing configured to further store first and second item text searchpointers indicating locations of the first item text information and thesecond item text information, respectively, the search pointer number ofthe program management table corresponding to the first item text searchpointer relating to the first item text information, and the searchpointer number of the play list search pointer table corresponding tothe second item text search pointer relating to the second item textinformation, said first item text information and said second item textinformation being respectively used as sub-information of the firstprimary text information and the second primary text information, andsaid first item text search pointer and said second item text searchpointer respectively including start address information of said firstitem text information and said second item text information, theinformation recording method comprising: recording data in said dataarea; recording said sequence management table, said play list searchpointer table, and said specific area in said management area; andrecording said first and second item text search pointers in saidspecific area.
 3. An information recording apparatus for recordinginformation on an information recording medium which includes, amanagement area and a data area, said data area being provided forrecording data in such a manner that the data is managed by one or moresequences and at least one sequence is composed of one or more programscorresponding to one or more cells, said management area including: asequence management table for managing one or more program sequences bydetermining an order of playback of said cells, and including a programmanagement table for managing said programs, wherein said programmanagement table is configured to store first primary text informationexpressed in characters, a play list search pointer table arranged todescribe information for searching and accessing play lists, whereinsaid play list search pointer table is configured to store secondprimary text information expressed in characters, and a specific area,which is different from a recording area of said program managementtable in said management area, is configured to store first item textinformation and second item text information, said program managementtable being configured to further record search information whichincludes a search pointer number of the first item text information,said play list search pointer table being configured to further recordsearch information which includes a search pointer number of the seconditem text information, said specific area being configured to furtherstore first and second item text search pointers indicating locations ofthe first item text information and the second item text information,respectively, the search pointer number of the program management tablecorresponding to the first item text search pointer relating to thefirst item text information, and the search pointer number of the playlist search pointer table corresponding to the second item text searchpointer relating to the second item text information, said first itemtext information and said second item text information beingrespectively used as sub-information of the first primary textinformation and the second primary text information, and said first itemtext search pointer and said second item text search pointerrespectively including start address information of said first item textinformation and said second item text information, the informationrecording apparatus comprising: a first recorder for recording data insaid data area; a second recorder for recording said sequence managementtable, said play list search pointer table, and said specific area insaid management area; and a third recorder for recording said first andsecond item text search pointers in said specific area.
 4. Aninformation reproducing method for reproducing information on aninformation recording medium which includes, a management area and adata area, said data area including data managed by one or moresequences and at least one sequence is composed of one or more programscorresponding to one or more cells, said management area including: asequence management table for managing one or more program sequences bydetermining an order of playback of said cells, and including a programmanagement table for managing said programs, wherein said programmanagement table is configured to store first primary text informationexpressed in characters, a play list search pointer table arranged todescribe information for searching and accessing play lists, whereinsaid play list search pointer table is configured to store secondprimary text information expressed in characters, and a specific area,which is different from a recording area of said program managementtable in said management area, is configured to store first item textinformation and second item text information, said program managementtable including search information which includes a search pointernumber of the first item text information, said play list search pointertable including search information which includes a search pointernumber of the second item text information, said specific area includingfirst and second item text search pointers indicating locations of thefirst item text information and the second item text information,respectively, the search pointer number of the program management tablecorresponding to the first item text search pointer relating to thefirst item text information, and the search pointer number of the playlist search pointer table corresponding to the second item text searchpointer relating to the second item text information, said first itemtext information and said second item text information beingrespectively used as sub-information of the first primary textinformation and the second primary text information, and said first itemtext search pointer and said second item text search pointerrespectively including start address information of said first item textinformation and said second item text information, the informationreproducing method comprising: reproducing said start addressinformation; reproducing at least a portion of said data recorded insaid data area; and reproducing at least one of first primary textinformation, second primary text information, first item textinformation, and second item text information.
 5. An informationreproducing apparatus for reproducing information on an informationrecording medium which includes, a management area and a data area, saiddata area including data managed by one or more sequences and at leastone sequence is composed of one or more programs corresponding to one ormore cells, said management area including: a sequence management tablefor managing one or more program sequences by determining an order ofplayback of said cells, and including a program management table formanaging said programs, wherein said program management table isconfigured to store first primary text information expressed incharacters, a play list search pointer table arranged to describeinformation for searching and accessing play lists, wherein said playlist search pointer table is configured to store second primary textinformation expressed in characters, and a specific area, which isdifferent from a recording area of said program management table in saidmanagement area, is configured to store first item text information andsecond item text information, said program management table includingsearch information which includes a search pointer number of the firstitem text information, said play list search pointer table includingsearch information which includes a search pointer number of the seconditem text information, said specific area including first and seconditem text search pointers indicating locations of the first item textinformation and the second item text information, respectively, thesearch pointer number of the program management table corresponding tothe first item text search pointer relating to the first item textinformation, and the search pointer number of the play list searchpointer table corresponding to the second item text search pointerrelating to the second item text information, said first item textinformation and said second item text information being respectivelyused as sub-information of the first primary text information and thesecond primary text information, and said first item text search pointerand said second item text search pointer respectively including startaddress information of said first item text information and said seconditem text information, the information reproducing apparatus comprising:a first reproducer configured to reproduce said start addressinformation; a second reproducer configured to reproduce at least one offirst primary text information, second primary text information, firstitem text information, and second item text information; and a thirdreproducer configured to reproduce at least a portion of the datarecorded in said data area.